May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage month, so our summer intern Abigale Morris asked a few of her fellow YOC members to share their favorite aspects of their culture. 

Brenna Preap: (Cambodian): Brenna’s favorite part of her culture is the:  “Cambodian festival Pchum Ben, is an important tradition for my family because it is when families and friends pay their respects and remembrance to ancestors and loved ones. This is important to my family because the environment in Cambodia was very difficult and many family members were not able to escape during the war. This festival is 15 days long and people visit and pray at different temples to visit the spirits of ancestors and relatives.”

 

Calvin Quan (Chinese & Vietnamese): Calvin says “One of the most important traditions in my family is when my whole extended family gets together for Lunar New Year every year. My extended family is quite large, and we are scattered all over the country, but no matter what, everyone tries their best to get back to California to spend Lunar New Year together. This tradition is really important to me since it is the only time that our whole family is together, and it keeps us close.”

 

Keanu (Filipino/Black/White): Keanu’s favorite part about his culture is: “The food is really good and the people are always very nice. They treat everyone like family.” ….. “I love that I am mixed with many cultures and can relate to most people. I am happy that I live in the Bay Area and have access to Filipino Heritage and Culture as and know many people who do not tolerate racism. I am happy when I see my culture celebrated at sporting events, on tv and on social media.” 

Leland Pan (Taiwanese and Vietnamese): Leland shares a unique trait about her culture: “Many Vietnamese and Taiwanese dishes, at least what my family makes, are simple but can be modified for a vegetarian or vegan diet. Yes, tofu is one of the staples for modification, but we include ingredients such as multiple types of mushrooms and greens. It may sound complex, but as my grandma always says, the key is in the seasoning.” 

Mason Kim (Korean):  Mason shares an important tradition in his culture: “The Seahae is a traditional bowing ceremony performed during the New Year. Children bow to their parents and elders while saying “saehae bok mani badeuseyo” which roughly translates to “healthy blessings in the New Year”. After the bowing, the adults usually give the children $1-$5 to spend as they wish. We also make mondu (egg rolls) and enjoy a special soup called dukkguk, which is a rice cake soup.”

It is so exciting to see all of the different cultures and traditions that are celebrated right here in the YOC community! These members all take pride in their heritage and advocate for the Asian American & Pacific Islander community in various ways. 

Looking for more ways to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month? Check out this article for inspiration. 

 

About Abi:

Hi everyone! My name is Abigale Morris, but most people just call me Abi. I have been playing golf for about 5 years and I have been involved with Youth on Course for about 4 years. This fall I will be playing collegiate golf at Biola University in La Mirada California! Some of my favorite things about golf are learning about sportsmanship and being able to take time out of my day to enjoy nature!